In a distinguished career that spanned 19 years in professional football, retired Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy amassed an incredible 347 goals in 589 club appearances.

When you've scored so many goals during a career it must be difficult remembering them all, let alone choosing the best of the haul.

But the former United No. 10 does know which of the 347 was his best and it is one that all Premier League fans should have seen before.

It came in the 2002-03 season, van Nistelrooy's second campaign with the Red Devils. United were at home to Fulham and were 1-0 up at the time thanks to penalty from the Dutchman himself.

United needed to start killing the game off, and in the second half the renowned poacher did something you would never see from someone with that kind of reputation.

Picking the ball up in his own half, van Nistelrooy proceeded to make his way through Fulham's midfield and defence, beating four players before exquisitely slotting the ball past the despairing Maik Taylor. The game finished 3-0 with the striking sensation completing his hat-trick late on.

Alex Dodd

Alex is a third year sports journalism student at Staffordshire University. As well as his love for sport he has a huge passion for technology and always has his eye on the breaking news in the tech world.